Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
4/16/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Agronomy, (515) 294-1923, malkaisi@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Soil Management Practices Can Protect Water Quality
Ames, Iowa --Iowa's water quality, conservation tillage, nutrient and manure management are inextricably linked says Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University Extension agronomist. "All play a significant role in affecting both ground and surface water quality." As spring fieldwork begins, Al-Kaisi urges farmers to be aware of the multiple effects every decision and field operation can have on water quality and soil erosion.
Using no-till practices can help farmers reduce soil erosion on their land. A recent tillage survey by the Iowa Resource Management Partnership showed that the adoption of no-till by Iowa farmers is lower than expected. "The reasons given for the lower than expected adoption was the perception of potential problems, such as cold, wet soil and lower yields," Al Kaisi says. "However, alternative tillage systems such as strip-till, or using manure injection as a tillage alternative, could resolve some of the limitations currently associated with no-till."
Preliminary results from the "Hub and Spokes" on-farm demonstration project in northeast Iowa and research plots at the Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farm at Nashua show that no-till did not significantly reduce yield. No-till was compared with conventional tillage systems for multiple nitrogen (N) rates. Yields were not significantly reduced except in cases where very low N rates were used.
"But beyond the impact on yield," Al-Kaisi noted, "improper manure, nutrient, and tillage management can contribute to erosion problems."
"Another fact that farmers need to consider is that manure injection equipment used by most Iowa farmers can be treated as a tillage tool. Ripping soil open with an injection knife will affect residue cover at various degrees that may contribute to soil erosion. Therefore, farmers who inject manure on potential erosive soils should review the impact on both their conservation tillage plans and nutrient management plans. Perhaps modifying their manure injection equipment will help them meet the goals of their plans."
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Funding support provided by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through Cooperative Agreement No. 74-6114-10-03.
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